⚒ fourth - [ video ]

[deathsought]

There are dragons in this world.

[ Captain Obvious's voice is heard before the feed even finishes turning on. Zeref himself has always been rather camera shy, so he's not actually in the feed; instead, it's being broadcast from the library, again. There's a few books open, on the table, all of them about dragons. ]

There's no shortage of information here about them, but I can't find anything about Dragon Slayers. At least, not about the type of mage. [ A bit about people who have killed dragons with swords or bows and the like - a ridiculous idea in the context of his world - but nothing about people who literally eat certain elements and use that power to kill dragons. ]

I don't suppose any of you have encountered one?

Comments

[deathsought]

Dragons in my world were every bit as intelligent as humans, if not moreso. They generally had a normal sleeping pattern, though I suppose it is possible for nocturnal dragons to exist.

[frostheartedrose]

Mn, I think I enjoy your world's version more. Every region with dragon stories was completely different on how they looked, what weaknesses and powers they had, even how intelligent they were. So they could be fat, stupid, and eat virgins... or snake-like and worshiped as deities. But I never found any real evidence they existed, along with unicorns, vampires, werewolves, or phoenix.

[deathsought]

There was a point in my world where dragons ruled the world nearly uncontested. Humans were little more than cattle, serving only as domesticated food. That is... until the advent of Dragon Slayers.

[frostheartedrose]

Hm, humans really don't seem like a good food source to me, personally. Slaves, perhaps, but not food. Averaging fifteen years to be able to reproduce and twenty to fully mature. Nine months to carry... Cows, rabbits, and fowl are much faster and certainly easier.

[She's actually rather serious in that, though there is some humor softening the edges.]

I can't really say much else though. While I was growing up the human countries around us considered low-ranking humans to be of less worth than a horse or cow. I do not miss the sight of serfs.

[deathsought]

Slaves?

[ Zeref chooses not to to pursue that question any farther. That was disturbingly similar to Hades' 'Ultimate Magic World' vision. ]

Your world sounds like a dystopia.

[frostheartedrose]

It was at the time. A rather large empire collapsed within weeks leaving all the conquered territories to fend for themselves. The people rose up and destroyed all traces of their former masters in many cases. Literacy, art, music, hygiene, they were stomped out of existence for a number of centuries. I'm sure you can imagine how many people died just from a common cold just because nobody knew how to use medicine anymore. People became extremely superstitious and thought anything and everything was the work of demonic forces.

[Bridget let her eyes go distant for a long pause as the memories drifted through her mind. There was a flat quality that one who had experienced the horror of living could produce before she shook it off.]

Humanity is getting better in some ways now but there are still wars of stupidity and egos, children dying of hunger outside the gates of the rich, and that little spark of fear at strange noises in the dark.

[deathsought]

Even in the face of calamity, human nature does not change.

[ Zeref falls silent for a while, after that. He's disgusted. ]

So, humans overthrew their masters, and in time because just as bad.

[frostheartedrose]

Oh? In the face of calamity, when humans had fallen to dark times, eventually they picked themselves up again and labored to rediscover what they had once thrown away. They grew tired of being afraid of everything and started figuring out what was real and what wasn't. Sadly for them I didn't allow them to rediscover us except for a very select few.

[Bridget started toying with a loose strand of hair thoughtfully.]

Why do you seek to see the worst in all humans?

[deathsought]

I have seen the same thing happen, century after century. War, greed, conquest... it never ends. I can reach no other conclusion than that humanity can't, or worse, won't change.

[frostheartedrose]

[A rather odd pause.]

Century after century? How long have you been dealing with humans? You really shouldn't expect such swift results... Only five hundred years in my world and humans went from inventing the first parachute to flying in space. Fifty years after that humans are capable of communicating face to face across the world.

[Poor Zeref, you found an older sis to tell you to chill out!]

[deathsought]

Then it will never change.

[ Not what he took away from that comment. Not to mention they already had ways of communicating face to face from across the world, the most common being communications lacrima. ]

It is different when you personally watch history repeat itself, over and over again.

[frostheartedrose]

[That sound? It's suspiciously like a snort. A rather unlady like one at that.]

Have you ever tried doing more than just watching? You could have spent centuries working to improve humanity. I've watched humans for nearly thirteen hundred years so don't get too attached to that idea that you're alone in longevity.

[deathsought]

No. The world rejects me, and my magic can't 'fix' anything. It can only destroy.

[frostheartedrose]

And you've given up entirely just because of a few rocks in the path? We really are similar in some ways. I suppose I'm rather thankful to my guardian that I had a reason not to give into depression and despair like you seem to have.

[deathsought]

To say I've given up wouldn't be entirely accurate. But that doesn't matter, here. This world is not my own.

[frostheartedrose]

Exactly.

[And she's going to smile just a tiny bit as well as rest her chin on her wrist while propping her elbow on the table. Her first nanny would have had a heart attack.]

This place is not of either of our worlds. There are people of other worlds and ways here. People who might actually have a new viewpoint of our situations and a new angle of trying to solve problems. They have abilities and experiences completely different from our own. Frankly, it's a chance to consider a new start. Or a potential end.

[deathsought]

Is it possible to die in this world?

[frostheartedrose]

I'm trying to find out but so far it seems that nobody who came here from elsewhere has come to that point yet. It would be rather nice to know. I have no intention of living in this cage for the next seven or eight thousand years just to find out I'm in a locked state.

[deathsought]

I suppose I will need to find out for myself, then.